Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Ediciones B (2009), 368 pages
Description
Fiction. Science Fiction. Thriller. HTML: George Galen is a brilliant scientist, a pioneer in gene therapy. But Galen is dangerously insane. He has created a method to alter human DNA, not just to heal diseases, but also to �??improve�?� people: make them stronger, make them able to heal more quickly�?�and make them compliant to his will. Frank Hartman is also a brilliant virologist, working for the government�??s ultra-secret biohazard agency. He has discovered how to neutralize Galen�??s DNA-changing virus. Now he is the one man who stands in the way of Galen�??s plan to "improve" the entire human race. This taut thriller takes the listener a few years into the future and shows the promise and danger of new genetic medicin
User reviews
LibraryThing member RachelfromSarasota
In his afterword to this collaborative effort, Orson Scott Card almost gushes in his unbridled admiration for his co-author, ending with a mock plea that Johnston wait five years before he outsells Card's books. I'm here to say that I don't think Card has much to fear.
The story idea for this novel
The book would make a good beach read -- fast-paced, undemanding, and very predictable. The characters are more caricatures than real people, and the plot seems culled from any number of C grade efforts from the SciFi channel.
A brilliant but crazed scientist has discovered how to tinker with the body's genetic blueprint (now that's a new and startling idea -- NOT). He forms a sort of New Age religious cult, with himself (brace yourself for a shock, here) as the Prophet. He's gathered a fanatical group of die-hard followers with superhuman powers around him, and although he and his devotees have done some good in the world by healing some folks with incurable genetic illnesses, his nefarious plan is to alter the human genome permanently. I told you the plot was derivative, didn't I?
Add to this standard mix the usual beautiful and brainy lady in distress, her small son, and a stalwart and good-looking male research scientist, stir well, and voila! You have your all too standard medical thriller.
Preston and Child did it better in Mount Dragon, while Dean Koontz created more believable and sympathetic characters in several of his similarly themed books. Card's name on the title, prominently blazoned above his collaborator's, drew me to check the book out of my local library; but I'm glad I didn't waste my hard-earned cash on this one.
Worth reading if you have an afternoon to kill, but not worth buying.
The story idea for this novel
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may originally have been Card's, and I have no reason to doubt his repeated insistence that the book was a "true collaboration" -- though there's a definite whiff of "I think the lady [or gentleman, in this case] doth protest too much" -- but the writing is nowhere near the quality of even Card's worst effort.The book would make a good beach read -- fast-paced, undemanding, and very predictable. The characters are more caricatures than real people, and the plot seems culled from any number of C grade efforts from the SciFi channel.
A brilliant but crazed scientist has discovered how to tinker with the body's genetic blueprint (now that's a new and startling idea -- NOT). He forms a sort of New Age religious cult, with himself (brace yourself for a shock, here) as the Prophet. He's gathered a fanatical group of die-hard followers with superhuman powers around him, and although he and his devotees have done some good in the world by healing some folks with incurable genetic illnesses, his nefarious plan is to alter the human genome permanently. I told you the plot was derivative, didn't I?
Add to this standard mix the usual beautiful and brainy lady in distress, her small son, and a stalwart and good-looking male research scientist, stir well, and voila! You have your all too standard medical thriller.
Preston and Child did it better in Mount Dragon, while Dean Koontz created more believable and sympathetic characters in several of his similarly themed books. Card's name on the title, prominently blazoned above his collaborator's, drew me to check the book out of my local library; but I'm glad I didn't waste my hard-earned cash on this one.
Worth reading if you have an afternoon to kill, but not worth buying.
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LibraryThing member eduscapes
I'm a huge Orson Scott Card fan, but this was a book that didn't need to be written. The original short story was great, but the novel was just padding. It seemed more like a formula FBI drama than a work of science fiction.
LibraryThing member vidroth
Very much an Aaron Johnston book, based off an Orson Scott Card idea.
With a few good moments, this is generally a bad book. The characters lack Card's humanity and empathy, the plot is obvious and yet hard to swallow. Not recommended.
With a few good moments, this is generally a bad book. The characters lack Card's humanity and empathy, the plot is obvious and yet hard to swallow. Not recommended.
LibraryThing member worldsedge
Card has shown he's able to pull off a Tom Clancy considerable facility, with Empire. He's now shown us he CANNOT do a Robin Cook. This one was by turns stupid, silly, ridiculous, while at the same time failing to be entertaining. I'm in no position to comment on the science, but even that didn't
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ring true to me. Had this been written by somebody other than Card I probably would've pulled the plug. I kept expecting it to get better and it never did. Mr. Card, I expect better from you. Show Less
LibraryThing member morydd
While Card is the big name on the cover, this isn't really an OSC book as near as I can tell. They style is very different, as is the characterization. While a good medical thriller, it lacks some of the empathy that makes Card's books as good as they are.
This book reads more along the lines of
This book reads more along the lines of
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Michael Crichton than OSC. Setting aside expectations for a Card story line and characters, the book is still quite good. The plot moves quickly, and the action is generally believable. For a first novel, it represents a great start. Show Less
LibraryThing member kqueue
I usually love Orson Scott Card for his unexpected plot twists, but I found Invasive Procedures to be a lackluster and formulaic medical thriller. After reading the afterword, I realize that this is the result of a short story turned into a screenplay turned into a novel, and maybe that's the
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problem - he's selling out and trying to be more commercial. Let's hope not. Show Less
LibraryThing member AspiringAmeliorant
I suppose it's a fun read of its genre--a little more science fiction than pure medical drama. The protagonist is a military medical doctor (of course), working on genetic research when he is called up to another agency to work on a countervirus for a particularly virulent virus that has been
Based on a screenplay by Aaron Johnston which was, in turn, based on a short story by Orson Scott Card, I would be interested to read the original short story. The characterization and details really are not like Card at all.
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mysteriously (and gruesomely) killing people. And it isn't just a virus, it's really a biological weapon that changes individuals' DNA.Based on a screenplay by Aaron Johnston which was, in turn, based on a short story by Orson Scott Card, I would be interested to read the original short story. The characterization and details really are not like Card at all.
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LibraryThing member bewise1
Sci-fi story based on organ transplant. Crazy scientist wants to create a new strain of human by manipulating DNA. Pretty well-written. kept my attention.
LibraryThing member librisissimo
Substance: A techno-thriller about an ego-maniac mad scientist George Galen out to conquer the world. Good protagonist (in both senses) and engaging story, but BIG plot holes and irritating minor ones (despite being worked out over several years with both authors and affiliated readers; what does
Some useful debates on the meaning and efficacy and morality of public and private sacrifice, and personal responsibility. Also the difference between real and fake "prophets" is the use of coercion on "believers" (p. 333).
Style: Idea by Card, writing by Johnston admitted and obvious. Indistinguishable for any other well-done work in the genre. Clearly a movie screenplay, in timing and plot.
NOTES: (spoiler alert)
Big Holes: Galen is only insane when the author wants him to be. There is no reason for him to do all his transplants at one time rather than seeing first if one works correctl (Jonathan doesn't really qualify, since he was part of the group)y; there is no reason for him to select homeless derelicts with defective minds and bodies, even if he does think his own mind with overwrite theirs (and none at all for him to pick a woman); if he was kicked out of the scientific and university community, where did he get all the money for his labs and followers upkeep? A major, complex plan was determined and rehearsed in only a few hours (or less) in the middle of a crisis p. 328).
Minor point: There were three kidney transplants, with no hint that the first came from someone other than Galen. Agents careen between super-competent and in-competent.
Sometimes Frank remembers he's carrying a deadly virus and cares (p. 287, laughably), sometimes he remembers and doesn't do anything p. 226); sometimes he doesn't seem to remember.
p. 108: Despite obvious reasons to do so, the hero and sidekick didn't call for back-up, although the next agent in did so on even less evidence.
p. 208: The requisite 24-hour deadline is cited, but then ignored.
p. 234: why would tranquilizer darts work at all on men who can heal instantly?
p. 241: "Who sacrifices their own children?" -- Abraham and Elohim come to mind.
p. 242: Why is there never enough time to explain things beforehand ("just do as I say") but always enough time after things get screwed up (and it didn't take as long as the argument over not telling the others in the first place) - at least Johnston points this out in the book after doing it anyway.
p. 252: no explanation as to why Frank gets stronger and Nick gets sick.
p. 258: no way Dr Owens' explanation of genetic memory would "lose" someone established as a brilliant virologist, and also a medical doctor.
p. 273: Where did Hal suddenly get the "sacred" book?
p. 336: Where does a neurosurgeon get pick-locks and learn to use them?
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it take to get things right?)Some useful debates on the meaning and efficacy and morality of public and private sacrifice, and personal responsibility. Also the difference between real and fake "prophets" is the use of coercion on "believers" (p. 333).
Style: Idea by Card, writing by Johnston admitted and obvious. Indistinguishable for any other well-done work in the genre. Clearly a movie screenplay, in timing and plot.
NOTES: (spoiler alert)
Big Holes: Galen is only insane when the author wants him to be. There is no reason for him to do all his transplants at one time rather than seeing first if one works correctl (Jonathan doesn't really qualify, since he was part of the group)y; there is no reason for him to select homeless derelicts with defective minds and bodies, even if he does think his own mind with overwrite theirs (and none at all for him to pick a woman); if he was kicked out of the scientific and university community, where did he get all the money for his labs and followers upkeep? A major, complex plan was determined and rehearsed in only a few hours (or less) in the middle of a crisis p. 328).
Minor point: There were three kidney transplants, with no hint that the first came from someone other than Galen. Agents careen between super-competent and in-competent.
Sometimes Frank remembers he's carrying a deadly virus and cares (p. 287, laughably), sometimes he remembers and doesn't do anything p. 226); sometimes he doesn't seem to remember.
p. 108: Despite obvious reasons to do so, the hero and sidekick didn't call for back-up, although the next agent in did so on even less evidence.
p. 208: The requisite 24-hour deadline is cited, but then ignored.
p. 234: why would tranquilizer darts work at all on men who can heal instantly?
p. 241: "Who sacrifices their own children?" -- Abraham and Elohim come to mind.
p. 242: Why is there never enough time to explain things beforehand ("just do as I say") but always enough time after things get screwed up (and it didn't take as long as the argument over not telling the others in the first place) - at least Johnston points this out in the book after doing it anyway.
p. 252: no explanation as to why Frank gets stronger and Nick gets sick.
p. 258: no way Dr Owens' explanation of genetic memory would "lose" someone established as a brilliant virologist, and also a medical doctor.
p. 273: Where did Hal suddenly get the "sacred" book?
p. 336: Where does a neurosurgeon get pick-locks and learn to use them?
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LibraryThing member ojchase
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well written and easily empathized with. I don't know much about genetic engineering, but just enough that much of it seemed quite realistic and possible in the not-too-distant future. I wasn't convinced of the feasibility of Galen's plan to transfer
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his memory genetically, however. Of course, that could just be because he'd gone crazy by then! Show Less
LibraryThing member yonitdm
Such an exciting story! So many twists it kept it exciting all the way to the very end!
LibraryThing member buffalogr
What would happen if/when some mad scientist could mess with our DNA and create odd fellows with coercive intent? It makes a great sci-fi story. Orson Scott Card can write books that are not related to "Ender's Game"...I'll look for more.
LibraryThing member piersanti
Not my favorite Orson Scott Card book, but I guess I shouldn't have expected his typical fantasy/sci-fi fare. Instead, this book was more like an old Crichton novel, just not as well-written or interesting.
LibraryThing member Hexum2600
This was interesting and I don't regret reading it... but I do regret that they sold it as an OSC book when it really isn't. The writing style really shows it.
This only bothers me because I am so hesitant to spend money in a way that it gets back to him so I have been borrowing his books from the
This only bothers me because I am so hesitant to spend money in a way that it gets back to him so I have been borrowing his books from the
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library hoping that it diffuses the money spent on the book between a lot of people and allows me to carry less culpability in furthering his political and moral crusades. But damn, I really do enjoy his tales. Show Less
LibraryThing member lyrrael
Good beginning, but petered out quickly.
Subjects
Language
Original language
Spanish
Original publication date
2007-09-18
ISBN
8466639772 / 9788466639774